Aviator&#39;s helmet



Sept. 27, 1932. J. w. LEVI AVIATORS HELMET Filed Jan. 18. 1929 INVENTOR.2M 4: A 201) ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE: l

JACK w. LEVI, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, AssIGNo'n; BY MEs n .ASSIGNMENTS, T

STEWART s; coornn, or oINcI ATI, OHIO AVIATORS HELMET Application filedJanuary 18, 1 29; "serial No. 333,385}

My invention relates to aviators helmets and to improvements in theconstruction thereof.

Aviators helmets in the past havebeen' 5 close fitting and have hadportions extending down at the ears, which completely cover fasten theparts of the helmet which fasten under the chin and pull up the sideswhen.- ever he wishes to hear what his pupil says. So too, the pupil hasto unloosen and lift up the sides of his helmet whenever he wishes tohear what the instructor is saying. To avoid the frequent fastening andunfastening of Further, the ordinary aviators helmet has no means forprotecting the eyes of the aviator fromthe glare of the sun, and the sunfrequently blinds him enough to increase the likelihood of accident,particularly when several planes are flying in close formation. Althougha shade for the eyes in some lights is desirable, on dark days it isundesirable.

It is the object of my invention to provide a helmet which will haveadjustable ear flaps which may be uncovered without the necessity ofremoving the helmet straps. Another object is the provision of thehelmet body and ear flaps in such an arrangement that when closed downthe flaps will form a double seal against the passage of the wind andsound. A still further object is the provision of a shield for the eyeswhich is so attached to the helmet that it may quickly be adjusted froma position shielding the eyes of the aviator, to a position in which itconforms to the shape of the helmet and does not shield the eyes orface.

I, also, have as an object the provision of a novel type of shield whichreinforces the helmet along thezline'of attachment of the eye shield,but is opposed to and onthe inner side of the helmet. Another object, isthe provision of a quickly releasable neck'fastener preferably formed ofextensions of the hel met body. them. An instructor of flying has toun-- The above and other objects to which reference will be madein theensuing disclosure I accomplish by that certain combination andarrangement of parts of which I have shown 1 a preferred modification; 7

Referring to the drawing 1 v Figure 1 is a side elevation of the helmetwithacut away portion atthefront showing the inner construction of thehelmet and with to the-eye shading portion down. 1

Figure 2-,is a side elevation from the side opposite that from whichFigure 1 is shown, "with the eye "shading portion bent back in non-lightobstructing, position.

lines3 3 in Figure 2 showing the adjustable ear flap construction. 7 iThe helmet ismade with a pair of matched pieces 1 forming the crown, ortop head cover- ;ing portion. To the pieces 1, pieces 2 are stitchedforming the side head covering portions of thehelmet. .Onepiece 2 haspreferably an extension 3 which acts as a strap,

being secured under the chin of the wearer to a-buckle i fastened to anextension 5yexte1iding down from the piece 2 on the side opposite thathaving the long-extensions. The aviator may quickly release the helmetby pulling down on the end of the extension 3. I At the front of thehelmet I have stitched an eye. shield 61formed'of arcuate shapedpiecesienclosing a stiffener piece. The :eye shield may, as indicated,-be quickly berit up from the position shown in Figure 1- to theposition62. shown in'Figure 2. ar-" cuate shaped guard 7 is-also secured-insidethe helmetopposedto theeye shield. 'In the portions'of the'helm'et whichcover the ears, I have cut circular openings-and i Figure 3 is asectional View taken along the have stitched on annular members 8 whichform a ring around the opening extending up above the main surface ofthe helmet. The ear flaps 9 are secured at their upper ends to thehelmet, and have fasteners such as the snap fasteners 10 which engagethe button fasteners 11 which are secured to the body of the helmet.

On the inner surface of the ear flaps I have stitched annular members 12of slightly larger extent than the members .8 so that when-the flap islaid flat against the helmet, both members 8 and 12 will provide adouble annular partition wall which will efiectively prevent either thepassage-of air or sound in under the ear flap. 7

When the aviator wishes to hear. what another flyer says he unfastensthe flap and raises it so that the sound may pass through to his ear.When he has finished he secures the flap in position again covering hisear.

' scribed, there are many possible variations from the specificstructure shown which will occur to those skilled in the art, withoutdeparting from the invention whichvI. have disclosed.

Having thus describedmy invention what edge and having means forfastening same to the body of the helmet along the opposite edges, saidflaps having annular wind breaking members, and said helmet havingregistering annular wind breaking members surrounding said orificeswhereby double air seals are provided for precluding the passage of airunder said flaps when same are closed.

2. An aviators helmet having passages therethrough over the portionscovering the ears of a wearer, annular ridges secured to and surroundingsaid passages, and adjustable ear fiap pieces also having annularridges, said ridges constructed and arranged to form a double air sealfor preventing the passage of air under said flaps.

3. An aviators helmet having passages therethrough over the portionscovering the ears of a wearer, annular ridges secured to and surroundingsaid passages, and adjustable ear flap pieces also having annularridges, said ridges constructed and arranged to form a double air sealfor preventingthe passage'of air under said flaps, and means JACK W.LEVI.

